JOSE MOURINHO went all quiet in the build up to this game and his team turned down the volume as well until a crushing crescendo rescued their title ambitions.

John Terry's goal leaves Chelsea a point clear at the top of the Premier League [GETTY]

It was so cruel on Everton who proved they belong to this illustrious company, bossing possession too frequently to the discomfort of the Stamford Bridge majority.

While Chelsea sleepwalked, a clearly frustrated Mourinho who had become ‘The Silent One’ on the eve of this tussle, refusing to be embroiled in any meaningful discussion, could see his title chances disappearing down the King’s Road.

Five minutes added time gave Chelsea renewed hope of producing a Houdini moment – one which frankly most of their fans had given up on.

Half way through it Phil Jagielka made the only mistake of an otherwise imperious performance at the heart of Everton’s defence.

Ramires, brought on at half time to try and introduce some energy into a dozing Chelsea, surged forward towards the area. The England man dangled out a leg and the Brazilian went crashing to the floor. Jagielka was booked but worse was to follow.

Up stepped Frank Lampard to fire in a trademark testing free-kick, which seemed to skim off Branislav Ivanovic’s head before hurtling into the six yard box.

John Terry, back in situ after a three game injury absence, followed up having locked onto the missile in typical predatory style, keeper Tim Howard spooning the ball into his own net.

Countless TV replays failed to confirm whether the Chelsea skipper had made the vital touch. Good luck to the dubious goal panel!

What wasn’t in doubt was the sheer importance of this late, late strike. Mourinho accepted that many will call it lucky. He wasn’t bothered one jot. “In the last 20 minutes we were strong. We created, we pressed,” he said.

“We dominated and of course when you score in minute 90 something you can speak about lucky, that the stars were with your team but the reality is the boys chased the game.

“I feel sorry for Everton but we were the team that was trying to win and I think maybe we deserved this.

Everton won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline earlier this season [GETTY]

“If we had drawn maybe we would have ended up third in the table. The players did everything. We have some limitations, that’s obvious. I never thought we would score so late. It must have been our destiny.”

A deflated Everton boss Roberto Martinez wasn’t so generous. He felt Chelsea had continued their remarkable record against the Toffees – Everton last won here 20 years ago – by being streetwise.

He countered: “We’re hurt and we’re not going to hide that. You saw today why Chelsea are now 74 league games unbeaten at home.

“It’s incredible how they get dead ball situations. It was a soft free-kick. You can’t blame the referee, they use every trick in the book. But I felt our performance was magnificent.”

It was an afternoon when the team with the best home record in the top flight failed to ignite the turbo charger. So much so that Chelsea were reduced to feeding on scraps.

Mourinho had grown increasingly frustrated in his technical area wondering what he was witnessing. The first half had seen Chelsea splutter, while Petr Cech was forced to tip over a fierce effort from Leon Osman and a Steven Naismith lay off for Kevin Mirallas needed a block from Gary Cahill to avert danger.

The enforced quick reshuffle with Naismith replacing the on-loan Lacina Traore, who felt his hamstring in the warm up, didn’t disrupt Everton’s game plan.

John Terry replaced David Luiz in yesterday's victory over Everton [GETTY]

Oscar’s Chelsea return didn’t last long. He was the sacrifice when Mourinho turned to road runner Ramires. Oscar had been on the sidelines in recent games until yesterday, a strange victim of the storms which according to his manager had rendered the playing surface too soft for his little magician.

His manager revealed afterwards that he had also been playing with an injury – one Oscar felt wouldn’t hinder him. He was wrong.

Other players didn’t have the same excuse. Samuel Eto’o is a shadow of his former goal-slinging self, while the introduction of Fernando Torres alongside him reaped no rewards.

Howard made fine saves from Lampard and Ivanovich while an Andre Schurrle volley flew wide.

Just when Everton thought they were home and dry along come John Terry. Or did he?

“I don’t know who scored. I didn’t ask,” Mourinho confessed.

MAN OF MATCH: John Terry No one can keep the inspirational Chelsea skipper down as Everton can confirm.